Сhарtеr 6: Just а Servant, Тhаt’s Аll
Аftеr the others hаd lеft, Ji Ruyue lеisurely sаt dоwn оn thе stооl. Watсhing hеr fаthеr hapрily sipping the sоuр, her еуеs wеrе filled with wаrmth.
“Yuе’еr, Princеss Сhanglе will surely visit in pеrson tоmorrow. You…”
Ji Ruуue сurled hеr liрs indifferentlу. “It’s fine. What abоut Сhеn Shujin?”
Оld Mastеr Ji’s fасе briefly shоwed disрleasurе, and he sighеd inwardly. А woman should аlwауs priоritizе her husband—evеn if she hаd bеen forсed to аgreе, hеr hеart still lеaned tоward him!
Ji Ruyuе sееmed to understand what her father wаs thinking аnd chuckled softlу. “Whаt are yоu рondering, Father?”
Old Master Ji shook his head slightly. “Nothing. That poor scholar’s family is not easy to deal with. You must be more careful in the future. But don’t be afraid—with your father here, they won’t be able to stir up any trouble.”
Knock, knock, knock. The study door was gently tapped.
“Come in,” Old Master Ji responded in a deep voice.
Granny Hu entered the study with a red, swollen left cheek, tears welling in her eyes. She walked hurriedly, then knelt on the floor as soon as she stepped inside. “This old servant pays respects to the Master and the Young Miss.”
Ji Ruyue’s eyes darkened slightly. “Granny Hu, rise and speak.”
“Yes.” Granny Hu stood up but kept her head lowered.
Old Master Ji looked up and was taken aback by Granny Hu’s appearance. “What happened to you?”
Granny Hu was the maid who had accompanied Ji Ruyue’s mother as part of her dowry. She held considerable prestige in the household, and few dared to disrespect her.
“This old servant just delivered the wedding gown to Mulanyuan. Who would have thought… the bridegroom’s mother was extremely dissatisfied with the gown? She complained that it was embroidered with magnolias and immediately cut it to pieces on the spot. She is now throwing a tantrum in the courtyard, insisting that the Master and Young Miss go there in person.” Granny Hu reported cautiously.
Bang! Old Master Ji slammed the table angrily. “He’s just a live-in son-in-law! If not magnolias, what does he want to use?”
Ji Ruyue quickly reached out to gently pat her father’s back, soothing him softly. “Father, don’t be angry. It’s not worth getting worked up over such a trivial matter.”
“They truly go too far!”
Ji Ruyue gestured toward the door, and Bai Mei quickly entered from outside. “Young Miss.”
“Take Granny Hu away and have the household physician examine her properly,” Ji Ruyue instructed.
“Yes.” Bai Mei complied, supporting Granny Hu as they exited the study.
Granny Hu also bowed in gratitude. “This old servant thanks the Young Miss.”
“You don’t need to concern yourselves with the matters of Mulanyuan, nor send anyone to relay messages. You may leave.”
After Bai Mei and Granny Hu had withdrawn, Old Master Ji remained furious. He stood up, ready to leave. “No, I must go and see for myself!”
Ji Ruyue reached out and pressed him back into his seat. “Father, there’s no need for you to go. Just order the household guards to surround Mulanyuan.”
Old Master Ji: ?
“Since the wedding gown is already ruined, naturally, he won’t need to appear tomorrow.”
Old Master Ji looked puzzled, not yet grasping his daughter’s meaning. “How can the groom be absent on the wedding day? Wouldn’t that violate etiquette?”
“Etiquette?”
Ji Ruyue’s lips curved upward. “How would it violate etiquette? Father only needs to add one more family rule to our Ji family regulations. In our Ji household, a live-in son-in-law holds a lowly status. Not only must he abide by the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, but he also has no right to receive guests or sit at the table. Tomorrow, I will attend alone.”
Upon hearing this, Old Master Ji was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter.
“Excellent, excellent!”
Father and daughter chatted in the study for a long time.Ji Ruyue still felt somewhat hesitant, unsure when the person she was waiting for would arrive.
Inside Mulanyuan.
Madam Li, Chen Shujin’s mother, grew increasingly dissatisfied as the Ji father and daughter had yet to arrive. “How can those lowly servants from a merchant family be so ignorant of propriety? The person sent to fetch them seems to have vanished. It’s been over an hour—do they even have any respect for the princess?”
Chen Shujin also wore a grave expression, softly advising, “Mother, it would be best to avoid resorting to force in the future. That matron seems to have some connections.”
Madam Li, however, paid no heed. “Connections? What connections? In the end, she’s just a servant.”
Beside her sat a fair-skinned young girl, quite adorable when she kept her mouth shut, like a girl next door.
Yet as soon as she spoke, her sharp and caustic words shattered that charm. “Mother is right. Brother is the only son-in-law of the Ji family. In the future, the entire Ji family will belong to him. What’s wrong with Mother disciplining a mere servant?”
The two of them took turns venting their frustrations, not only insulting the matron but also hurling abuse at the Ji father and daughter.
Madam Li was still scheming about how to discipline this daughter-in-law from a wealthy family.
But the person she waited for still hadn’t arrived, and the sky grew dark…
At dinnertime, two young maidservants entered the courtyard carrying food boxes.
“Wait, where are your master and young lady? Why haven’t they come to report?” Hearing Madam Li’s angry shout, the two maidservants timidly glanced at her, set down the food boxes, and dashed away…
Their sudden departure left the Chen family members stunned.
Seeing this, Madam Li felt a surge of unease and immediately wanted to give chase. But as soon as she stepped out of the courtyard gate, two thick sticks, as sturdy as a baby’s arm, barred her way.
“What… what are you doing?”
The guards glanced at Madam Li indifferently. “Madam Li, please return to the courtyard. The master has ordered that, with the wedding approaching and many guests in the mansion, to avoid any offense to you and the young master, you should remain peacefully in the courtyard.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Li flew into a rage. “Is Old Master Ji trying to confine us here?”
“You misunderstand, madam. The master is doing this for your safety,” the guard replied calmly.
Madam Li was furious. She shoved the guard forcefully, trying to break through.
Unfortunately, her frail body was no match for these tall, sturdy guards.
In a few swift moves, she was effortlessly turned around and pushed back into the courtyard.
With a “bang,” the courtyard gate was shut again.
“Without the master’s orders, we cannot let you leave, madam. Please do not make things difficult for us.”
Madam Li clutched her chest, her nostrils flaring with anger.
“Mother.”
Chen Shujin and his siblings had also heard the commotion outside. Seeing their mother treated this way, they were filled with indignation.
“Very well! The Ji family truly bullies others with their power, daring to confine us in this courtyard!”
Madam Li, still panting, cursed and complained about her grievances.
Chen Shujin’s face instantly darkened.
He pushed the door open, intending to reason with them properly.
When the guards saw that it was the poor scholar who had come out, their expressions darkened further. Their tone grew slightly stiff as they said, “Please return, young master. Do not make things difficult for us.”Chen Shujin, hearing them repeatedly address him as “young master” yet act so disrespectfully, grew even more displeased. He slightly raised his chin, naturally assuming the air of the master of the house, and spoke sternly to the nearest guard: “You are mere servants, and I have no desire to make things difficult for you. Just tell me—who gave you the audacity to lay a hand on my mother?”